How Do You Price a New Metal Roof?

To find the price a metal roof, first determine the area of the roof, desired style and material. Then consult an online calculator for a general price. For a more exact estimate, speak with a local roofing professional.

Metal is one of the more expensive roofing materials, but is durable and lightweight. It can be installed in panels or shingles of copper, stainless steel, aluminum or zinc. Panels may be installed either with the fasteners being visible or hidden. For a different look, shingles imitating wood or stone are available.

As with any material, metal roofing has its pros and cons. Metal is nonflammable and energy-efficient, but in regions with heavy snowfall, snow can slide easily off the surface and injure people below. Maintenance is minimal, but some types of metal may require a special coating to combat corrosion.

Metal roofing has been in use since at least 970 B.C. It has been used in famous buildings such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Pantheon in Rome. In the United States, copper was used on Philadelphia's Christ Church in the 1700s, and a galvanized iron roof was installed on the U.S. Mint in New Orleans in 1857. In the late 1800s, light tin shingles with embossed designs were popular across the country.